Protective effects of Iranian Achillea wilhelmsii essential oil on acetaminophen-induced oxidative stress in rat liver

Abstract

Context: Achillea wilhelmsii C. Koch (Asteraceae) is widely used in Iranian traditional medicine. Objective: This in vivo study evaluates the hepatoprotective role of Iranian A. wilhelmsii oils against acetaminophen-induced oxidative damages in rats. Materials and methods: The animals were divided into five groups: in negative control and control groups, the DMSO and 500mg/kg acetaminophen were i.p. injected, respectively. In treatment groups, 100 and 200mg/kg oils and 10mg/kg BHT were given i.p. immediately after acetaminophen administration. Then, the hepatic oxidative/antioxidant parameters such as lipid peroxidation (LP), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) were measured in time intervals (2, 4, 8, 16, and 24h) after administrations confirmed by histophatological consideration at 24h. Results: The results indicated that acetaminophen caused a significant elevation in SOD activity (8-24h) and LP and FRAP levels (4h) paralleled with significant decline in GSH level (4 and 8h). The apparent oxidative injury was associated with evident hepatic necrosis confirmed in histological examination. The presences of A. wilhelmsii oils (100 and 200mg/kg) with acetaminophen mitigated significantly the rise in SOD, LP, and FRAP levels and restored the GSH compared with the group treated with acetaminophen. These were confirmed by histological examination indicating the hepatic necrosis reversal by the oils. Discussion and conclusion: It can be concluded that concomitant administration of A. wilhelmsii oils with acetaminophen may be useful in reversing the drug hepatotoxicity.